Relating to health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers, and health insurance coverage for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers

This bill relates to health insurance coverage for surviving spouses and children of deceased fire fighters and peace officers; and health insurance coverage for disabled or injured fire fighters and peace officers. Under current law, if a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council has procured accident or health care coverage (coverage) for its employees, such coverage shall permit continuation of existing coverage or reenrollment in previously existing coverage for the surviving spouse and each surviving child (surviving family) of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter. The bill eliminates the provision under current law that an employer providing accident or health care coverage is not required to pay for the cost of the coverage, but may pay the full cost or a portion of the cost of the coverage. The bill eliminates the provision under current law that if the full cost of the coverage is not paid, a surviving family eligible for coverage may elect to continue accident or health care coverage by paying that portion of the cost of the coverage not paid by the employer. Under the bill, if an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its employees, such coverage shall require continuation of existing coverage or reenrollment in previously existing coverage for the surviving family of an eligible peace officer or fire fighter, and the employer shall pay the full premium. The bill defines “employer” as a governing body, a county board of supervisors, or a city council. Under the bill, if an employer has procured accident or health care coverage for its active employees pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or employer policy, the employer must provide, at the employer’s expense, such coverage for a peace officer or a fire fighter who is receiving an accidental disability benefit as a result of a work-related physical disability or injury until the date the eligible peace officer or fire fighter turns 55 years old.